Did You Know

Top 10 Skills to Have During an Interview

#1. Preparation

Winging it is never worth it. Not only will your interviewer see right through it, but your answers (and your self-confidence) will seriously suffer if you neglect to properly prepare. You should dedicate an hour, at the minimum, to your preparation.

#2. Punctuality

There are very few (if any) excuses that will redeem a late arrival. Do whatever you need to do to get there ten to 15 minutes in advance of your interview time, whether it’s planning your outfit and packing your bag the night before, setting five alarms or asking a friend to give you a wake-up call, or leaving extra early to account for potential transportation obstacles.

#3. Thinking Before You Speak

A well thought-out answer is always better than a rushed one. Of course, you don’t want to sit there in silence for 5 minutes as you come up with an answer, but it acceptable to take several seconds to think before you speak.

Avoid the “ums” and “uhs” and buy yourself time by repeating the interviewer’s question back to them, or using a phrase like “That’s an interesting question!” or “I was actually just thinking about that when I read an article on a similar topic, and…”

If you’re really stumped, you can say “What a great question. I’ve actually never been asked this before; let me just take a second to think about this.”

#4. Speaking Clearly, Cohesively, and Calmly

Nerves can get you talking a mile a minute, and so can the simple desire to convey as much valuable information about yourself as possible. However, talking too fast can make you look rushed, flustered or anxious. Make a conscious effort to slow down and speak calmly and clearly. It will help you avoid interview stress.

#5. Being Confident, Not Arrogant

Although you should be willing and able to promote yourself, your experience and accomplishments, make sure you don’t come across as arrogant, narcissistic or self-important. No matter how good you are at your job, you’re going to run into countless obstacles if you lack the emotional intelligence to work on a team and get along with managers, co-workers or clients.

Focus on exuding a kind and balanced sense of confidence, and when you discuss your achievements, be sure to give credit where credit is due in order to show that you are a team player.

#6. Actually Listening

Anyone can nod, smile and say “Right” or “Exactly” over and over, but how many people actually listen? Interviews are especially tricky because you do need to be listening to your interviewer’s question, while mentally preparing your answer. However, if you don’t listen well in the first place, you might miss the entire point of the question, and as a result, your answer will fall totally flat.

Stay in the moment and don’t let yourself zone out, even if it feels like the interviewer is endlessly blabbing on. Preparation will help tremendously (so you have material ready to discuss, and don’t have to come up with it all on the spot) but good listening skills and the ability to stay focused are key.

#7. Expressing Optimism, With Your Words and Your Body Language

No company wants to hire someone with a bad attitude. No matter how difficult your situation is, don’t bring any baggage into the interview room. That means don’t bad-mouth your former employer or any other companies you’ve been associated with or complain about your personal circumstances.

Be natural, expressing reasonable perspectives through a lens of optimism. For example, if you have to talk about a challenging situation, you should include a mention of how you may have helped solve it, and what you learned that made you a better employee. Remember,your body language does matter as much as your words. Walk in with a smile on your face, offer a firm handshake, and sit up tall at the table, leaning slightly forward to engage in the conversation.

#8. Showing Interest, Without Desperation

Sometimes, it can be helpful to think of an interview as a (professional) first date. An air of disinterest, apathy, or monotony will likely turn off an interviewer, as will overenthusiastic desperation. No matter how much you want or need the job, refrain from acting desperate; pleading or begging has no place in a job interview. The key is to express earnest interest in the role and in the company, and passion for the work you do. Keep in the back of your mind that you are a valuable asset as an employee.

#9. Knowing More Than Your Elevator Pitch

Although you should be able to give an elevator pitch in which you introduce yourself, recap your experience and promote your most valuable professional assets, make sure you’re comfortable talking about yourself beyond that. Know how to discuss both your strengths and weaknesses and emphasize your best qualities and greatest skills, while putting a positive spin on your areas of improvement.

You should also be able to exert some level of control over the conversation. For example, if an interviewer tries to trip you up with you a tricky question like “Have you ever had a bad experience with an employer?” or “Tell me about a time a coworker was unhappy with you,” you should be able to answer their question while bridging your response into a positive: an idea or example that shows how you learned or grew from the situation. You should also have questions of your own to ask the interviewer.

#.10 Expressing Gratitude

Don’t underestimate the importance of saying “thank you.” As soon as your interview concludes, you should thank your interviewers for their time, and for the opportunity to learn more about the position. When you get home, you should always follow up with a thank you email. Otherwise, the interviewer may take your silence as a sign that you aren’t really interested in the position.